In the two years since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, I have attended numerous Palestine-themed demonstrations in central London, observing the anguished faces of protesters and documenting the public response as it has undergone three distinct phases:  

• Early marches centred on the release of hostages and fears of rising antisemitism.  There was widespread sympathy for Israel and the plight of the hostages.

• But this was soon overtaken by public anger at Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza, which was widely condemned as disproportionate. There was also anger at the British Government’s complicity in supplying arms to Israel.  

• In more recent demonstrations the debate has become focused on civil liberties: peaceful protesters have been arrested merely for making placards supporting Palestine Action (recently designated as a terrorist organisation), with police officers sometimes appearing to be reluctant law enforcers.